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In either case, where you are may not be where you thought you'd be by now. It may not be where you want to be right now. And it may not be where you know you could be by now.

All of that can either paralyze you, or propel you. It can hold you back, or launch you forward. It can frustrate you or remind you.

Wait...remind you? Of what?

Your past may have played a part in your present, but it doesn't have to determine your future.

There isn't one of us, myself included, that doesn't need to hear this from time to time.

There is value in a little self-reflection, to provide new direction.

It's at those moments that we have to decide if we are going to feel sorry for ourselves, and start settling for less than our full potential. Or...take a deep breath, settle in, and see things from a fresh perspective.

Be fully present where you are, who you are with, with what you have.

And when you start moving forward, bring contentment along for the ride.

Stop settling today for what your past is lying to you about. Stop settling today for who others say you are. Stop settling because the obstacles in front of you seem like they are too big to take on.

And...

Settle in.

To believe your past is your launching pad, because it was your learning ground. To believe who you are isn't determined by the the insecurities of others. To believe your future is what you make of the opportunities you leverage today.

And when you do...

Enjoy the contentment you find when you settle in, because you've committed to stop settling.

Passion: If you aren't bleeding the vision of your organization, how can you expect anyone on your team to? Actually…I once heard it said that "the leader has to hemorrhage in order for the people that follow to bleed". Sounds kinda gross…but makes a great point. You can't sit back and send your team to the front lines to fight for you all day as you sit in your silk robe in a castle far away. Roll your sleeves up…teach them, speak into them, go with them…show them the way.

Patience: There will be days when it feels like you are on a treadmill instead of an actual run where you can see progress. Everything seems stationary at best. If you lose your noodle in frustration in this moment, you'll lose your people in indifference soon. Instead, realize that the "treadmill days" are still doing something very important. They are creating a culture of endurance. Even though you can't see progress today, you are preparing people who are willing to keep running anyway. That is a culture that will be ready for a marathon on a moments notice.

Persistence: This is beyond treadmill time. This is when the treadmill is broken, coffee pot breaks, half your team is late and the other half is playing candy crush on their phones. If you get to this point, it's time to hit mental rewind as the leader. Go back to day one and ask yourself "WHY did I start this?" Not in a pity party kind of way, but in an honest, heart-level look at your purpose. Once you've dialed into that, go back to leading with passion and preparing to be persistent to do whatever you need to do to get your team back on track.

Grab on to these 3 things as a quick mental exercise to see if where you are, is where you should be. If it is, way to go! Keep at it! If not, now you've got a little nudge to take care of what needs to be fixed. Get at it!

As always…thanks for stopping by! It's always humbling to know you chose to be here. I appreciate your time, and wish you all the best as you lead your team…wherever you may be!

One step at a time = #progressEven if you take three forward, and two back…you are moving forward. There will be days will when you crush it, and days when you feel crushed. But if you are committed to trying something each day to take a step forward, you will find yourself making progress.

Progress over time = #momentumYou'll eventually look up and see things changing around you. The energy you expended to move forward one step will now get you three. What seemed so hard when you started has become much easier. Think about it, lift 10 lbs. today and everyday for a month. Next month not only will it feel easier…you'll find yourself smack in the middle of momentum as you crave, pick up and crush heavier ones.

Momentum all the time = #leverageLiving in this space gives you choices. It allows you to have the options you've always wanted, because you've done the hard work you previously wouldn't. You feel better about you, and people feel more confident in you. That gives you what you need to have conversations that effect change. There is a word for that. Leverage.

#bonusUse your leverage to lead well, and teach others to get where you are now. There is an amazing sense of accomplishment as you bring others with you and set your team up to make progress, build momentum and create leverage.